Indian external affairs minister gave permission for Pakistan trip: Sidhu

Says sportsmen build bridges and are respected on both sides

Indian cricketer-turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu defended hugging Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa during his much-talked-about visit to Pakistan to attend Prime Minister Imran Khan's inauguration.

This is the first time Sidhu has spoken about the incident, which is being termed as an anti-national act by a section of media in India but hailed by most Pakistanis, in detail.

While talking to India Today, Sidhu started off by clarifying that he went to Pakistan as Prime Minister  Khan's friend and a goodwill ambassador of peace.

"I went after being invited five to ten times," he said. "All the official measures were taken ... Imran called me and said you must come," he added.



Sidhu relayed that Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj phoned him on the night of August 14 and said, "Putar jee teri permission hogaye hay (son you have the permission)."

He began citing examples of former (late) Indian prime minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee and incumbent PM Narendra Modi.

"Did Vajpayee not go?", "Did Vajpayee not instigate a peace initiative? Then why am I being targeted?" he said.

He further asked why does the Indian Border Security Force exchange sweets with Pakistani Rangers on August 15?

"The Indian High Commission presented a bat autographed by the Indian cricket team to PM Imran when he was elected. Why did they do so?"

Sidhu did not drop his guard throughout the interview as the anchor kept throwing bouncers at him.

Upon being pressurised to answer why he hugged the army chief, Sidhu said, "When a general comes up to me and says Pakistan will open the Kartarpur Sahib corridor on the 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev. What am I supposed to do then?"



He said the hug was a natural human gesture. "The General stood there for one minute and I never met him after that," added Sidhu.

The Congress leader even pointed out that the Indian president also appreciated his visit before criticising the media for only picking up negative views on his visit.

Upon being asked, why he was not in India to attend (late) Indian PM Vajpayee's last rituals, Sidhu said, "I was following the thought process of Vajpayee because I went to Pakistan with a message of peace.

"If you have peace and prosperity then suddenly the guns stop booming," he emphasised.

Sidhu also spoke about the warmth and love he received in Pakistan. "I dont even remember how many people hugged me but I know it took me half an hour to reach the lift of my hotel after entering it."

He stated if PM Imran believes talks and peace is the only way forward then he believes him. "Sportsmen build bridges. They're respected on both sides [of the border]," Sidhu said.

The cricketer-turned-politician also said the Indian government should ponder over the resumption of cricket ties with Pakistan as requested by the latter before suggesting that the winners of Indian Premier League (IPL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL) should play a match.

Towards the end of the interview, he said that the Indian government needs to make decisions now and all he can do is request and pray to them.

"Whole world is my country. All mankind my brethren. To do good is my religion," Sidhu said in his closing remarks.